History of St. Lawrence Catholic Church

St. Lawrence Catholic Church

1871 - 2004

The town of Sandoval was incorporated by an Act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, and approved February 18, 1858. The last spike was driven in the crossing of the Illinois Central and Ohio and Mississippi tracts in 1854. As Sandoval grew, and more people began to make their home here, stores and industries flourished and the population grew to 599 souls. Many came from Poland, Italy, France, Germany and Spain. Most of these men were employed in the two coal mines, canning factory, zinc factory, railroads, as well as a Mercantile Store and Hotel.

It was not long before people of this growing community, longed for the presence of a Catholic Church, which was their faith in their homeland. Mass had been celebrated in their homes as early as 1863, when the missionary priests would come to town. Church records indicate that the Rev. Michael Weis, S.M. baptized Ferdinand Speiser on December 1, 1867. His death was also the first recorded on May 26, 1873. The first official Mass, recorded by the Diocese, was celebrated by Rev. Theodore Wegmann at the Flood home, in the year 1871. Priests from Effingham and Centralia took care of the spiritual needs of this new parish. Rev. Wegmann in 1867 began to raise money to build a Church for the growing Catholic community. Martin Klein, born in France, who also owned a mercantile store in the Village, gave to the Rt. Rev. H. D. Juncker, Bishop of Alton Diocese, lots number 9 and 10 of block 8. The present church sits on this site today. Rev. Wegmann was replaced by Rev. Hermann Hegemann who arrived in 1872, and was appointed official pastor of Sandoval. The funds were raised and work began on the new church. The structure was designed by W.E. Stewart, and would be made of wood. Gothic architecture, a belfry, and a spire would be included in the design. The Church was completed in June 1873. As the church was being planned the priest were preparing the people for Confirmation, which was held April 29, 1871, with 13 people being confirmed. On March 1872, there were 12 new communicants.

In July, 1873, a tornado from the west, completely destroyed the church. The building was gone, but the people would not be shattered; they wanted to have their Church. Work would begin again. The first festival brought some funds for their building, and in September, 1874, their church had been rebuilt.

On May 31, 1876, the Sandoval Catholic Church was dedicated to God. Bishop Batters, from Alton, the priest from Highland, Rev. Hegemann, and Rev. Eckerle, from Sandoval, assisted. The total income for the year 1877 was $265.65, expenses of $264.00, leaving a balance of $1.69. A new organ was added to the church in 1878 at a price of $70.00. Income for the year, including that received for pew rent $103.50, for a total of $273.20, leaving a deficit of $1.50. The bell was bought in 1877, at the cost of $54.45. This is the bell that is still in use.

On June 26, 1884, the Centralia Sentinel reported that a cyclone had demolished the Sandoval Catholic Church. Again it was rebuilt.

Rev. Mathias Conrad Aloysen Jansen, born in Dublin in 1863 and ordained in 1888, was appointed to Sandoval, May, 1889, as the first resident pastor. Rev. Bernard Reusch was sent to Sandoval in 1889 after the death of Rev. Jansen. Rev. Otto Meier replaced Rev. Reusch in 1890, when a priest's house was built, that later became the Convent for the Sisters. This building also served as a school.The Belleville Diocese had been formed in 1888, and St. Lawrence was then changed from the Alton Diocese and became part of the Belleville Diocese.

Again St. Lawrence would experience a loss of their precious church, on May 1, 1893. On the day of Ascension, lightning struck the steeple of the church, demolishing it and tearing the whole front from the building. Then only 2 months later, on July 2, at 1:15 P.M., a cyclone coming from the west, moved the building two inches off its foundation. In both cases the Insurance Company. paid all the damages. Later it was moved to where the present school building stands, and with lumber from the dismantled church at Odin, rooms were added to be used as a school in 1906. In July 1905, the school opened with Miss Margaret Fossick of Alabama as teacher. Many prayers were answered when in 1912, the Sisters of The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ from Donaldson Indiana, came to be part of the Parish. There were 69 students ready to receive their education. These wonderful teachers stayed with us until the end of the school year of 1982. There is no way we can ever repay them for their wonderful dedication to our Parish. Our Parish school was closed due to lack of finances at the end of the school year in 1988, with only 38 students attending. PSR classes continued and with the help of several lay people and two nuns, the children were taught their Catholic faith to prepare them for first Communion, and Confirmation. These PSR classes still continue to be held.Altar servers have also been added to make the service more complete.

The time had finally come to build the new brick church. The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1924. Msgr. J. Kamp Y.G. of Belleville officiated. The building cost $25,000.00 and would be one of the most beautiful buildings in the state, according to the Centralia Sentinel.Under the pastor Rev. Charles Tuttle, the church was redecorated in 1996, including the repainting of the Fresco, statues, and Icons, donated by many of the parishioners in past years, which add to the beauty and sanctity of the interior. These offerings also include the Lord's Supper, which was placed on the side Altar, beneath the Tabernacle, with a perpetual light. This gift was given as a memorial to the 111 miners who were killed in the # 5 mine explosion on March 25, 1947. Nine men of the parish lost their lives. Many priests and sisters, as well as lay people, have contributed to the well being and growth of St. Lawrence, these including the Poor Handmaids, Adorers of the Blood, Sisters of the Divine Providence.

The prayers and hopes of the parishioners, are that we will all work as one to preserve the legacy that has been handed to us from those who worked so diligently in the past and who gave so much that we might continue to have our St. Lawrence Catholic Church.